ALMOST 2,000 visitors descended on Bromsgrove’s Avoncroft Museum for the Living History Festival – the venue’s biggest event of the year.
More than 300 re-enactors showcased over 1,000 years of history on Saturday and Sunday.
There were Victorians, Vikings, Romans, knights, General Strike and women’s vote campaigners and different eras of English, American and French armies, including Napoleonic troops and First and Second World Wars.
Weapons of years gone by, including swords, spears, canons and muskets, were displayed and demonstrated, along with domestic aspects – cooking, dancing, traditional crafts and past times, a medieval weaver, handmade tools, costumes, cloth and historic pottery.
The New Guesten Hall hosted food and music through the ages with the Stream of Sound Choir and dancing group Gloriana.
The Bromsgrove Society of Model Engineers ran rides each day on its miniature railway and historical authors gave talks and signed books.
Lynda Case, Avoncroft’s events and marketing co-ordinator, said: “Although it was the fifth Living History Festival, it was the first one that was organised totally in-house.
“We have spent many months booking traders and forging connections with some of the best re-enactment groups in the UK – many whom travelled great distances to take part.
“Groups were hand-picked and selected to cover 1,000 years of history from the Bronze Age onwards.”
Two arenas offered a full timetable with everything from battle re-enactment to a medieval fashion show.
Lynda added: “Visitors – many of whom came in costume – gave us wonderful feedback on the day.
“They were impressed with the fast-track entrance for pre-booked tickets and with the variety of the eras on display, with so much to do see and even buy.”
Visitors enjoyed a variety of food and drink, including hot pork roles, tasty pasties, gallons of drinks and lots of ice creams.
Lynda added: “Many of the re-enactment groups I spoke with on the day commented on how engaging and interested the visitors were.”
She thanked everyone who supported the event, adding next year’s Living History Festival would be on April 24 and 25, 2027.
